Digital rail ticketing trial expanded to South Yorkshire
Passengers will now be able to board Northern services between Sheffield and Doncaster - without the need to a buy a ticket first
Last updated 3rd Nov 2025
A new digital ticketing trial has been expanded to South Yorkshire, allowing people to board some services without the need to buy a tucket first.
People getting aboard Northern services between Sheffield and Doncaster will now be able to track their journeys on their smartphones, with the best fare automatically charged at the end of the day.
A similar trial is already underway on some Northern services in West Yorkshire.
Passengers taking part are able to claim £15 of free travel for signing up.
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “The railway ticketing system is far too complicated and long overdue an upgrade to bring it into the 21st century. Through these trials, we’re doing just that and making buying tickets more convenient, more accessible and more flexible.
“As part of our Plan for Change, we’re delivering straightforward, stress-free train travel across the North, supporting passengers and boosting economic growth, jobs and homes.”
Alex Hornby, Commercial and Customer Director at Northern, said:
"We’re proud to be at the forefront of modernising rail travel in the North. The success of the first trial has shown that passengers value the simplicity and flexibility that technology brings.
“This second trial is an exciting next step and we’re excited to offer customers in that area a smarter, easier way to travel. This is about removing barriers and making rail the obvious choice for everyday journeys."